On this episode of The Litigation War Room, host Max Goss speaks with seasoned trial lawyer, professor, and author Shane Read about his book, Winning at Deposition, and about what it takes to master deposition strategies and techniques.

Max and Shane break down high-profile (and entertaining) cases involving President Bill Clinton and Microsoft founder Bill Gates to highlight common pitfalls and best practices for depositions. Their conversation covers the crucial importance of depositions in modern litigation, the strategic reasons for taking or not taking a deposition, and how best to prepare for a deposition. Because, as Shane makes clear, winning at depositions means having a clear case strategy and a bottom line message from day one.

00:20 Guest Introduction: Shane Reed

00:33 Discussing Deposition Strategies

01:36 Shane Reed's Background and Career

03:19 The Crucial Role of Deposition Testimony

04:53 Reasons to Take or Not Take a Deposition

07:11 Effective Deposition Techniques

17:00 The Role of Preparation in Depositions

20:22 Handling Forgetful Witnesses

24:47 The Importance of Preparation

25:36 Bill Gates's Antitrust Testimony

27:52 The Art of Persistent Questioning

31:33 President Clinton's Infamous Deposition

34:31 A Heated Exchange in a Deposition Room

38:18 Common Mistakes Lawyers Make in Depositions

40:09 Insights on Remote Depositions

43:16 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

Shane Read bio page

ShaneRead.com

Winning at Deposition

Turning Points at Trial

Shane Read on X

Shane Read on LinkedIn

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The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation attorney Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases in Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.

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On this podcast episode, litigation attorney Maxwell Goss hosts the insightful and funny Suzanne Lucas, better known as the Evil HR Lady. Suzanne has had a multifaceted career as an HR writer, keynote speaker, webinar company owner, and improvisational comedian.

Suzanne brings serious insights and her own witty brand of advice to a host of HR topics, including common mistakes employers make that can lead to lawsuits, the changing world of non-compete agreements, and the challenges of remote work. Suzanne also offers her candid (“Sorry if this gets you canceled, Max!”) views on gender and age discrimination and the impact of artificial intelligence in HR, and provides practical advice on handling employee terminations.

The personal anecdotes and valuable insights that Max and Suzanne share make this a great listen for litigating attorneys, HR professionals, and anyone interested in becoming a savvier, more effective leader in the workplace.

00:18 Meet Suzanne Lucas, the Evil HR Lady

02:12 What improv has to do with Leadership Training

04:29 Why 'Evil HR Lady'?

05:42 Human resources and legal intersections

07:50 Common HR missteps and how to avoid them

22:14 The use and abuse of AI in employee recruiting

23:21 The career impact of parenthood

24:03 AI and gender bias in the workplace

27:57 Legal complications created by remote work

35:36 The changing landscape of non-compete agreements

40:17 Best practices for employee termination

44:57 Suzanne’s final thoughts

The Litigation War Room kicks off Season 2 with an interview with Justin Brooks, founder of the California Innocence Project and author of You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You’re Innocent. Justin speaks with host Maxwell Goss about his work exonerating the wrongfully convicted. He brings both realism and hope in sharing his amazing and moving stories from the front lines of our justice system.

00:24 Introduction to Justin Brooks and his work

01:21 Expanding innocence projects in Latin America

04:10 Justin's defense of football star Brian Banks

08:10 The journey of writing You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You're Innocent

09:44 Justin's appeal to the reader's self-interest

14:14 Defense of a client sentenced to death on a plea bargain

23:44 Defense of a client convicted based on false identification

29:53 Defense of client convicted because of debunked science

33:59 Advancements in forensic science and DNA testing

39:10 How cases come to the Innocence Project

46:37 Challenges and reflections on the criminal justice system

The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation lawyer Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in trade secret, intellectual property, and business cases throughout Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.